Doesn't make sense to me. I was on several narcotics back in 2004. Ultram, Hydrocodone and sometimes morphine when i was in the hospital ER. THing is I was also at the pain clinic searching for answers. I wanted so badly to find anything else to help my pain. I was there getting pain blocks and I was at the headache clinic at pittsburgh UPMC eventually searching for answers there. No luck. Maybe the state has to see the the NARC is just a intermediary solution and that it isn't permanent. They don't wanna full blown druggie on their hands that they will be supplying just for the addiction as the reason. They wanna make sure you need the meds for your pain but that you are looking for other ways too.

Just my opinion on it though...dunno if i am right or not.

My best -opy

Lee, You are not crazy or stupid. It doesn't make any sense to me either. If we were at the top of our game,there would be no need for pain clinic, pain Drs. Then they would be out of jobs ! I think they are blowing smoke up your ass. These Drs. forget that they work for us. We pay them good money.If I hired a painter that was doing a crappy job, I would fire him. I feel the same about these Drs. No one is irreplaceable. Not even the Dr. Gods!! I am fortunate to have found a kind and caring Doc. Before him I had a HACK. So needless to say we had a parting of the ways, and NOW the piest da ristance.... he closed his practice. Now he is in pain. OH Happy Days, He was a horror. Personally I think he was an insurance whore and he got SHUT DOWN !!! hahahahaha... Hugs, Deb

What the frick? I'm having some serious problems computing what your pain clinic is saying. You must be showing improvement or else the DEA will assume that your treatment isn't working. Surely, anyone who has worked in pain management understands that there are some conditions that WILL NOT improve with physical therapy, steroid injections, nerve ablation, etc....The pain management specialty only has so many tools at its disposal, and they don't work on everyone! In that case, the pain must be controlled with pain medication. DUH.

It sounds like they're trying to do 1 of 2 things:
1. Pain meds are cheap for your ins. co., compared to all these other treatments that aren't working for you. Could the pain clinic be trying to get more money out of your ins. co. by getting you to keep trying the stuff that doesn't work (hoping for improvement that will obviously never come) while you're on morphine?
2. Are they trying to get rid of you by putting you in a paradoxical situation and subjecting you to requirements that cannot possibly be met? How can you suddenly start showing true improvement now??? I mean, of course you'll feel better b/c of the pain meds, but that's not real improvement in your source of pain.

Wow this situation is so nuts. I really feel for you. I hope they take their paradoxical situation, throw it out the window, realize you haven't improved with the former treatments, and just prescribe you the morphine. I know the DEA is bloodthirsty, but could they really come after your pain clinic for giving you the medication you need?

With lots of caring,
Orchid

hi how are you ??
you dont sound silly.
My pain speaclist asked me to do a pain course so they know that i'm able to know how to pace and that.
Sometimes the pain clinic makes us do things to make sure they weed out the pain and the drug seeking.
I also had to real time imaging to show the pain clinic i was in pain.

Because its just one big giant stupid ridiculous *GAME* they make people play... "HOOPS"... to jump through...they say "ok now these are OUR conditions now JUMP through our hoops"

Im my opinion... just my opinion... I would never go to a "PAIN clinic" because for the most part (maybe not EVERY single one- there must be at least one "good one" out there ) they are NOT out to help a pain patient... they are there to push there OWN agenda and make what?? MONEY>> thats right... and if a patient is ONLY on meds for pain...well thats NOT going to make them ANY money... its the blocks etc that are there money makers... I mean cmon its perfect... you even have to keep coming back for more and more blocks sometimes...

But yes it does make sense that they want "goals" ok fair enough... give them goals... you may or may not reach em ... but yeah --Its NOT a bad thing to make goals if they are YOUR goals and not their goals... if you want to be able to walk one block and back... then thats a goal! Write that down for them because there is no wrong answer... its what YOU can do...

Getting back to your question... yes it does ssound ridiculous to say that you were feeling better just to get medicine that just may help you to funtion better... but like I said its all a game...THEY know they are playing one...its not right -its not fair -
"it IS... what it IS"

There is a possibility that you can find a good doc...I did ...and my Dr. would never dream of doing this BS to me... she would think its demeaning and uncalled for... that CP patients have enough to deal with...

Have you looked around for a different Doc?
I do wish you the very best and hope you can find a better solution.

I am with orchid on this, isnt pain clinics also used for people that have a long term chronic problems that will not go away, you may be on some sort of pain relievers the rest of your life. I do not think it is any different if you had diabetes even if you take your insulin every day it does not go away.

I would ask what if you dont get better do you just have to suffer and if you dont go to a pain clinic where do you go.

In my opinion, it sounds like they tried some non medication things to see if they helped. When they didn't, they made the decision that you needed meds to help with the pain. Most of us are told to expect about a 30-50% reduction in pain with the meds. I know we all would love to be pain free, but from what I have been told many times that is unrealistic.

In order to continue to prescribing the meds, the clinic needs to show that you have had some inprovement with the meds. If you don't then obviously the meds are not working for you and the risk of prescribing them is higher than the benefit you are receiving from them.

This is just my take on it.
Melissa

Gosh, my friends on DS are the greatest!!! I agree with you!!!

Leelew, I'm sorry you're going through this!!! I hope it works out soon... I like llady's idea of giving them YOUR goals, no matter how trivial they seem. (Hey, I'm not ashamed to say I congratulate myself for showering each day!) Make them understand that just because you can achieve small goals, doesn't mean you could do it without the meds. Funny how doctors want to focus on everything bad about meds, but when it comes to something good, like being able to shower most days :-) they don't want to think it's the meds that might be helping us to do these things. I don't believe you are crazy or stupid, just an unfortunate pawn in the doctor game. I'm thinking that looking for a new doc might not be such a bad idea... I'll keep you in my positive thoughts!!!

Much love and understanding,
Lisa

I'm sorry but I had to laugh at Lisa...I don't shower each day because it takes so long to recover. I'm lucky that I have no oils in my hair and it's curly/wavy. I can go at least a week or more without washing it, so I justify to myself I don't need to shower as my hair looks fine. LOL.

Lee there are better PCs out there. I like the idea of asking them if you can set your own goals and if that doesn't satisfy them, then start looking for another clinic. Mine is the best and my new insurance doesn't cover them but I refuse to change. I'll just somehow cough up the money. They said they would work with me until I can change insurances next year.

This post has opened up my eyes and the replys make sence. My last visit was maved up because I was having so much pain and couldn't wait. I have had my dosage increased twice in 3 months, but the doc was happy to see my pain level was down by 2 points in one area and offered me a higher dose. Like one reply said, "You showed some improvement, so that means it must be working, so let's give you a little more. I see you did physical therapy with no improvement, so how about a membership to the Y just to show you are trying exercise, it is alot cheaper and the whole family can go." She jots all this in her notes, and I think it is more to cover her but for the scripts than anything. Thanks for the post. Puts a new light on things. :) Julie

Thank you for all of your ideas everyone. I'm thinking about looking for a doctor rather than a clinic. I've thought for a while that this clinic milks the insurance with the $2000. shots. Every so often they force me to have these shots even though they have never helped in the past. They tell me that they won't give me the morphine unless I try the shot. More money, and more aggravation, then the shots never help so they give me the morphine.

The last time I was especially disturbed because the doctor appeared very friendly and said that I should increase the morphine. I shouldn't suffer. So I increased it a bit. THen the next time that I went the same doctor said that I should have a shot again because I increased the medicine. It was his idea to increase it, not mine, so it just seemed to me like he set the whole thing up so that he could tell me I needed another expensive procedure.

I want someone who really seems like he's there to help me instead of milking my insurance. I have so many back problems I just think they look at me and see dollar signs!

Leelew!!! I can totally relate!!! My doc sees a 22 year old girl hurting more than she can bear and thinks I'll comply with whatever BS he throws at me. I have pretty good insurance at the moment. He messes with the wrong girl! I take no BS. I might be a little lazy for staying with him this long and fighting with him, but at least I get a little help for now, I'm emotionally exhausted at the moment. I have to go into the city for the next place to try. All the docs out by me that I've tried are ridiculous!!! So, I'm going to the large schools and centers downtown. The drive is going to be murderous, but they are research centers so they know the latest treatments and studies. My doctor knows I'm going because he isn't helping me. I won't be asking for meds since I'm under contract with my other doctor, this allows them to see me for me, not as a "drug-seeking 22 year old who should just suck it up because she's young." Yeah, it's been fun....... NOT!!! I'v been at this game now for 7 years, but I only have seen a doctor for the past 3 years (it's been severe for the past 3 years). I've been through many doctors, and let me tell you, I DON'T pay for their attitudes!!! I'm not getting into this much debt because I want to. I'm in the fight of my life and I need help, not arrogance.

But the whole point of me blabbing on is to let you know, I understand!!! You are definitely not alone in this... I hope you find a doctor that is going to work with you, not against you!

Much love and understanding,
Lisa

I'm sorry to hear of your exsperinced with P/c,but trust me your lucky to have one.I'm 51 went to my first P/C appt. and was told he could help me if i'd jump throw hoops.It seems i'm a risk according to him i to many red flags which he gave me.I've never been red flaged in my whole life.I have hep b&c,chronic RA &fibromyaliga,AS and blown rotator cuff and need surgery on my neck.I can't get in pain clinic now b/c he red flaged me.So i'm truly happy that you can get pain managment.

you're not crazy or stupid. they're crazy.

It helps just to know that there are so many others out there who understand! Thank you. I hate how these pain clinics make you feel like an addict even when they know you have chronic problems. We're patients, not criminals!